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Allardyce praises clinical West Ham

Sam Allardyce has attributed West Ham's excellent Premier League form to a more clinical edge in front of goal this season.

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Written ByPeter Hanson

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West Ham flirted with relegation during the 2013-14 campaign
before eventually recovering to finish 13th.

Part of the problem at Upton Park was the team's troubles in the
final third, with the club scoring just 40 goals last term.

This season has seen a marked improvement on that front, though,
with the club riding high in fourth having scored 26 goals in 15
top-flight matches.

And manager Allardyce is thrilled with the way the team is
converting their chances.

"What we've got this year is that we're taking our chances
more," he said ahead of Saturday's visit to Sunderland.

"You play in the best way you can with the team you've got and
we've never been short of creating chances."

Allardyce is expecting a tough encounter at the Stadium of Light
against a Sunderland side that have had their own problems in front
of goal this term, with only Burnley and Aston Villa scoring fewer
than their tally of 13.

"Sunderland is a difficult place to go," he added. "[Sunderland
head coach] Gus Poyet has probably struggled for goals and that
would have got them more wins than the draws."